Ribbon guide for typewriters or like machines



Mai-25, 1948. D. H. coLLlNs 2,442,232

RIBBON GUIDE FOR TYPEWRITERS OR vLIKE MACHINES Filed MayV 2, 1946 INVENTOR. .d/vid H. CoH/'ns By@ y v ATTORNEYS Patented May 25 1948 RIBBON GUIDE FR TYPEWRITERS OR LIKE MACHINES David H. Collins, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Royal Typewriter Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 2, 1946, Serial No. 666,742

7 Claims. Y (Cl. 197-170) This invention relates to ribbon guides for typewriter or like machines, and more particularly to guides of the class referred to which are constructed or equipped to facilitate introducing a ribbon into the guide.

It is well known that commonly used conventional typewriter ribbon guides, for example those embodied in ribbon vibrators, are so constructed as to require the ribbon to be threaded lengthwise through the guide opening or to be slipped edgewise through a narrow entrance slot leading to the guide opening. This requires rather awkward lingering and handling of the ribbon with consequent loss of time and soiling of the operators fingers. The same diiiiculties are encountered in removing an oldribbon.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ribbon guide of the general class referred to including improved means such as a latch or retainer for holding the ribbon against displacement from the guide slot, and which may be moved relatively to the other guide part or parts so as to facilitate inserting a ribbon in or removing it from the guide slot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guide of the character stated in which the latch or retainer is of improved construction, and is so related to other parts of the guide as to be movable between two denite limit positions determined by stops to prevent damaging of the parts, which otherwise could occur if the latch or retainer were inadvertently to be forced beyond its normal range of movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ribbon guide of the kind described including simple and effective means for releasably holding the latch or retainer in closed position.

Other objects will become apparent from a reading of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing, in which:v

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the improved ribbon guide embodied in a typewriter ribbon vibrator, and showing the relation of these parts to certain conventional parts of a typewriter, ribbon latches or retainers being shown in closed position; i

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the ribbon vibrator, with the ribbon latches or retainers being shown in open or raised position Figure 3 is a top plan view of the ribbon vibrator, and an associated guide scale and printing cylinder or platen;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a ribbon latch or retainer, shown on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the latch or retainer shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the latch or retainer as seen from the left of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of a ribbon vibrator with latching or retaining fingers omitted;

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 2; and

Figure 9 vis a section on the line 9 9 of Figure 5.

Ribbon guides having some features in common with the guide disclosed herein are disclosed in the co-pending applications of Arthur E. Davis, Ser. No. 666,743, iiled May2, 1946; Lewis C. Myers and William Graepel, Ser. No. 666,744, filed May 2, 1946; and Lewis C. Myers, Ser. No. 692,971, led August 26, 1946.

A preferred form of improved ribbon guide constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2 as being embodied in a ribbon vibrator A mounted for vertical reciprocation with respect to a conventional type bar segment B and printing cylinder or platen C. A

typewriter ribbon D is shown as extending between ribbon spools E-E mounted respectively olhafts F-F; and a card guide scale is shown a With theexception of the ribbon guide means with which it is provided, the ribbon vibrator A is of the form employed in Royal Standard typewriters, but it may be of other form or construction and it will be understood that guide means constructed in accordance with the invention may be embodied in typewriter parts other than ribbon vibrators and may be used in typewriters of different makes or constructions.

The ribbon vibrator A includes a lower stem portion I and two guide proper portions generally designated 2-2 spaced from each other above the stem portion I and being disposed in front of the writing line of the platen C. Each guide portion 2 comprises two mutually spaced opstanding finger parts 3 and 4 between which is an open top ribbon guiding slot 5. In use, the ribbon. D extends in front of the outer fingers 4-4 through the slots 5 5. and behind the inner lingers 3 3.

The tops of the slots v5--5 may be closed by ribbon latches or retainers E-S when a ribbon is in place and the machine is conditioned for operation. Each latch B preferably is formed of Sheet metal cut and bent or pressed to the novel form shown in detail in Figures 4, 5 and 6. Each latch comprises a plate formed with two spaced depending ears 'l and 8 on opposite sides of an angle bend 9 shown in Figure 4. A ange I0 extends rearwardly toward the platen C.

The ear I is apertured at II to receive a pin, I2 by which the latch 6 is pivotally mounted at the top of one of the inner ngers 3 so that the latch 6 may be moved selectively to the closed or ribbon-retainingposition shown in Figure l, or toV the open ,position shown in Figure?. The .ear is formed with a button I3 adapted to interengage frictionally in a depression I4 in the associated outer iinger 4 of the ribbon vibrator A.v The latch 6 is thus releasably held in operative 'or-` closed position by the surface catch means I`3--I-4.

The laterally projecting allang@ ,I serves :both to stiien the latch 6 andas-a stop engageable with the top of the associated nger 4 positively to limit closing movement of the latch 6 and prie-v vent its being forced below its proper closed posi` tion, which might damage the parts andv which to right and left hand, and each r'ireferablyisV formed with a nger piece AI1 for convenience in manipulation. When a latch 6 is in closed position, the associated finger piece .III extends away from the guide part .3 and beyond the guide part 4 so V`as to .be disposed Aoutwardly Yoi .i',he .gnide proper ,2 in readily 4accessible position.

In aise, when it isde'sired to inserta ribbon Y in the guide slots .V5-5, they latches 6 5 `are swung to the open positions shown in Figure 2 in which the tops of the slots 5 5 .are open and the ears B Bare disposed completely out of the lines of the respectively associated slots 5 5. The ribbon Dcan .thenbe easily Vinserted in theslots by a. downward movement, after which the latches are moved `to thev closed or retaining positions shown in Figure l.

lt `will be seen .that the latches .G iiA are 4of simple form and may easily and economically be manufactured from sheet metal. The limiting stops provided by :flanges I provide a safeguard against strainingor damaging Ithe parts by careless handling. Furthermore, the stops I deii- I nitely .determine the amount of opening movement of the latches needed to swing the ears 8 8 out of the lines of the ribbon slots 5 5 sothat theribbon may be inserted in the slots without encountering the ears T8 8.

n Aend ofthe slot substantially unobstructed and 4 said latch and which, when said latch is in closed position, extends away from said one of said parts and beyond the other of said parts and is disposed outwardly of the guide proper in readily accessible position.

2. In a ribbon guide for a typewriter or like machine3 a guideppropercomprising two spaced parts forming the sides of an intervening guide slot; a ribbon'latch; means pivotally mounting fsaid latch on one of said parts adjacent an end of said slot to swing to open position leaving said to a ribbon-retaining position in which said latch extendsacross said end of the slot; a laterally projecting surface on said latch engageable with Y the guide proper' for limiting the opening movement of said latch; and a finger piece on said latch and which, when said latch is in closed position,

extends away from said one of said parts and beyond the other of said parts and is disposed outwardly -of the guide proper in readily .accessible position f Y 3. Ina ribbon guide for a typewriter Vcrflike machine, vla :guide proper vcomprising two spaced parts forming the sides of an intervening guide slot; a ribbon latch; ymeans pivotally-mounting said latch on one of vsaid .parts adjacent anend of said slot to swingrto open-position leaving said end of `the. slot substantially `unobstructed and l:to ajribbon-retaining .position inwhich .said latch extends acrosssaid'end ofthe slot; and alater-ally projecting ange on said .latch extendingfrirom the pivotedvend of vthe `vlatchacross and beyond said slot, said Yflange having asurface engageable with they end of the other ci?l said 1partsior positively limiting movement of .-said ,latch to closed position, `and-having an end surface adjacent the pivoted end of the latch engageable With said oneof Vsaid Yparts `for positively limiting opening movement of said latch. Y ,fr 1

4. In a ribbon guide rfor a typewriter sor like machine, a guide proper comprising 'two spaced Y parts forming the sides of -an intervening guide The construction .disclosed embodies .the-.inf l vention in its preferred form,.but it will beunderstood that .changes maybe made without departing from the ,invention .as vdonned in the claims.

vI claim: Y

1. In a ribbon guide for Qa typewriter or like machine, aguide proper comprising two spaced parts Vforming thevsides of an intervening guide slot; a ribbon latch; means lpivotally mounting saidlatch on one of said parts adjacentV an end of said -slot to swing to open position leaving said end of the Vslot substantially unobstructed and to a `ribbon-retainingy position in which said latch extends ,across said end of the slot, ya lateral projection onsaidlatch engageable with/one of said guide proper parts for positively limiting the slot; a ribbon latchgmeans pivotally mounting said latch on one of said parts .adjacent .an -end of said slot -to .swing to lopen position leaving said end of theslotsubstantially unobstructedand to a ribbon-retaining position in which saidla-tch extendsacross said end of the slot; interengag-ing sur-face :catchvmeans on the "latch vand the other of said parts for releasablyholding the :latch-fin closed position; and a laterally projecting hang-e on said latch extending from the pivoted end ,of the latch across and beyond said slot,fsaid iiange having aV surface engageable with the-"end ofthe other ofrsaid partsforpositively limiting movement of said vlatch 'to closed position, and having an end'surface .adjacent the pivoted end ofrfthe latch engageable withsaid one of saidv partsfor` positively limiting opening movement `cflsaid latch` l5. In a ribbon guide yrfor a typewriter orilike machine, a guide proper comprising Vtwor 'spaced iinger's forming the sides Yof an intervening guide slot; a ribbon latch; V'means pivotallyl mounting 'said latch on one of said ngers adjacent an 'end of said slot to swing' to open-position leaving said end of said slot substantially unobstructed Yand to a ribbon-retaining position in whicnsaid latch is in closed position; interengagin'gsurfaceVV catch means on saidear and saidfot'her of said fingers for releasably ho'ldingsaid `:latch insclosed position; and a, laterally projecting surface on said latch adapted to engage the edge of said one of said ngers remote from said slot when said latch has been swung to a position in which the entire latch, including said ear thereon, is completely out of the line of said slot,

6. In a ribbon guide for a typewriter or like machine, a guide proper comprising two spaced ngers forming the sides of an intervening guide slot; a ribbon latch; means pivotally mounting said latch on one of said fingers adjacent an end of said slot to swing to open position leaving said end of said slot substantially unobstructed and to a ribbon-retaining position in which said latch extends across said end of the slot; an ear on said latch projecting alongside said slot and overlapping and frictionally engaging the other of said fingers when said latch is in closed position for releasably holding said latch in closed position; and a laterally projecting surface on said latch adapted to engage the edge of said one of said lingers remote from said slot when said latch has been swung to a position in which the entire latch, including said ear thereon, is completely out of the line of said slot.

7. In a ribbon guide for .a typewriter or like machine, a guide proper comprising two spaced fingers forming the sides of an intervening guide slot; a ribbon latch; means pivotally mounting said latch on one of said ingers adjacent an end of said slot to swing to open position leaving said end of said slot substantially unobstructed and to a ribbon-retaining position in which said latch extends across said end of the slot; an ear on said latch projecting alongside said slot and overlapping the other of said ngers when said latch is in closed position; interengaging. surface catch means on said ear and said other of said fingers for releasably holding said latch in closed position; and a laterally projecting flange on said latch extending from the pivoted end of the latch across and beyond said slot, said flange having a surface engageable with the end of said other of said fingers for positively limiting movement of said latch to closed position, and having an end surface Aadjacent said pivotal mounting adapted to engage the edge of said one of said ngers remote from saidslot when said latch has been swung to a position in which the entire latch, including said ear thereon, is completely out of the line of said slot.

- DAVID H. COLLINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 702,447 Manning June 17, 1902 855,542 Van Anden June 4, 1907 1,027,488 Lockwood May 28, 1912 

